Sadly, had to start a new thread for 2021 at http://www.passenger.chat/24452 .

---

Summarising December 2020 here:

448 services scheduled

315 ran as trains on time
57 as trains slightly late
15 trains significantly late
5 ran scheduled as buses *
* - said to be on time but we don't know. I saw three - each a few minutes late
56 trains cancelled

Cancellation reasons:
16 due to "heavy rain flooding the railway" (but on another railway line not ours  )
38 due to a shortage of train crew
1 due to a fault on the train
1 - no reason logged
 
85% ppm - which is below 90% target but not unreasonable so.
87.5% running rate is dreadful - cancellation rate (12.5%) of between 5 and 10 times the target, and I suspect the worst around by a long way on lines that remain open (Landslip at Ash and floods near Exeter have lead to closed lines where the figures may be as bad - difference is that the TransWilts line has not been closed!)

Noting that cancellations continue 1.1.2021 which may be somewhat forgiven because replacement bus alternatives are starting to appear in the journey planner.   Replacement buses without timetable information on a very sparse service (rather than a turn-up-anytime-and-ride frequency) are of very limited use to customers.

 

We'll start a new thread when the New Year starts, Bob ... in the meantime from GWR - pretty sure this is circular / shareable as it refers to the temporary timetables from just before Christmas; that was the replacement of the semifast services from Paddington via Westbury with extra stops in the expresses - sensible way to serve a thinner market and with thinner services, keeping effect on passenger journeys down.

 
Of course with the turn of the year this should probably be the start of a new thread, however...  it seems likely trains will be replaced by buses for the next three days - ie up to and including Sunday 3rd January.

Those responsible for rostering are working now to see what resources they will have available from Monday with priority being focussed on rush hour services for key workers.

 

Good - however, if you book / look at fares on GWR's own web site, you will find that passengers booking via Bath are being told and sold the higher, and not the 8.10 return fare (yes, less than half today's price) offered on direct trains.  Come on - GWR - isn't that just a bit naughty?

 
This has been added to the message for each train

 

Today's list ...


Which leave the 20:21 as the only train calling at Melksham ...

 
Same story for tomorrow (New Years Eve).

All TW services except the 20:06 from Westbury will be replaced by road transport.

Further afield Cardiff-Portsmouth will be every two hours.

 

I shall attempt to shed some light on this!

The method of work for door release on classes 165 and 166 is that the driver stops at the correct stop mark, checks, and then releases the doors on the correct side EXCEPT at a very few platforms where local door release is mandated. In these specific cases, the driver does not release any doors once stopped at the platform, and it is for the guard to open the local door (the first passenger door). Different signage is provided, as shown here in grahame s second photo at Dilton Marsh http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=22329.0 This method of work applies for the likes of Avoncliff, Thornford, Chetnole, Dilton Marsh, Mottisfont and Dunbridge, and certain stations in the Exeter area since Turbos were introduced around there.

The fundamental point is that for safe operations, only one method of work is employed at each platform, and the method of work for Melksham is the first i.e. the driver releases the doors. Therefore 4/5/6 coach 165/166 formations do not call at Melksham. A workaround would be to manually lock all the doors on the rear unit before leaving the previous station to Melksham, once you had moved all the passengers to the leading unit, all of which would take time and cause some inconvenience to the displaced passengers.

 
Social media posts - for the record

https://www.facebook.com/MelkshamRUG/posts/722279858416797


https://twitter.com/MelkshamRUG/status/1344194947612880897

 
From GWR:

 

It is certainly one of the best periods of the year for it to happen - totally agreed.  The service is used by key workers; numbers will not be great, but individual effects may be significant. Lack (so far) of anything but "later than normal" for timing ... no bus times on departure screens, for example ... leaves it pretty darned impractical to use the alternative at present with a bus going to turn up at some time every couple of hours.

Journey check has been updated (06:15), but advise there is out of date in talking about line closures due to flooding ...  might be better to say nothing than something that's wrong?

 

Given that replacement transport is being provided, it's one of the quietest travelling days of the year, the only people travelling to/from Swindon (tier 3) will be doing so in extremely specific, essential circumstances, this should hopefully not cause too much hardship?

 

Gone are:
07:37 Westbury to Swindon due 08:20
08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26
09:45 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34
11:06 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47
12:16 Westbury to Swindon due 13:01
13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:56
14:16 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:55
16:25 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08
17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17
18:39 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
20:45 Swindon to Westbury due 21:26

A single service remains at 20:06 from Westbury ...

 
I do remember (yonks ago) a DMU crawling along a station, with the driver waiting for a 1 bell stop buzz from the guard.  Happened a few times.
Also happened in steam days with the driver waiting for a long whistle as to when to stop.

Apologies, off topic!

 

 

There are "S" stop boards for all lengths of trains at the front of the platform in both directions .   No need to run off at the ends, and indeed when longer multiple unit trains have called in the past, the front has stopped at the front marker leaving the train hanging. Exactly as they do at Dilton Marsh every time they stop there.

I do have pictures ... coming in a few minutes.

 

If you?re running part of your train off the platform, then I?d say you?d need a stop board.  The risk would be too high otherwise. Where the platform is long enough to accommodate the whole train, you don?t need one.

 
I?ve taken so many photos at Melksham but none of them answer the question.

Apart from the usual 2/3 car stop I assume there are no others.  That might be an issue stopping other trains.  Or have I got that wrong.  Does a driver have to have a stop board for his/her length of train to be able to call?

 

That?s fair enough then, realised after I posted that they must usually stop Avoncliff so it?s a bit of an odd reason

 


No. 165, 166 and 158 coming through.  Regular service are 165, 166 and 158 as well.  So


Maybe sometimes, and we appreciate that's the case when London to West Country trains get diverted through, but it has not been the case in current disruption.

 

I?m not familiar with the route but are they different classes of train being used? 

Sometimes it?s just a case that there?s no agreed method of working the doors if it?s a different class of train then what normally operates the route.

 
Line through Bradford-On-Avon just reopened.  First trains going through now.

 

Is that an announcement of three days of cancellations?

 
Timed at 11:50

 
P.S.  Melksham Station regularly takes trains that are 2 and 3 carriages long.  Scroll up to look at the report just above from Trowbridge and you'll see that all trains coming this way in the next couple of hours are 2 and 3 carriages long.   Suggestions that the trains won't fit are poppycock!

 

Interesting excuse.  They seem perfectly able to call trains longer than the platform at Dilton Marsh and Avoncliff, and assured us that an extension from 1 to 3 carriages at Melksham was all that was needed ... which is why plans to reclaim the platform face that's still there behind Melksham Tyres were taken no further.

 

Thanks, Bob - these are from a few minutes ago (and I have just refreshed the first one and it's unchanged) - look forward to seeing cover AND advertised!

Appreciate the problems and the potential for more virus issues.  Frustration and lack of sympathy come from perceiving a failure to take simple steps that - whilst they would not eliminate the problems - would so make things so much better for passengers both in what they are told, and how they can travel.    

I sorta look forward to saying "hey - service has fallen apart, but go the station anyway because something else will be calling at around 0x:00, you'll need to change at Chippenham" - and that would have been so easy today with a couple of stop orders and telling people.  Perhaps if the inspection shows the line will still be closed through the valley tomorrow, these stops and data could be included in the replanning in the early hours?

 


From GWR

 
I have spoken with GWR and this is the latest

Road Replacement has been arranged to cover for cancelled services AND will be advertised
Where possible three-car diverted services will make an extra call at Melksham
Next inspection of the state of the floods in the Avon Valley will be made late this afternoon

Looking ahead, a warning.  Both Westbury and Fratton depots now have a high number of staff off with either the virus or being in close contact with those who have, so there may be alterations and cancellations in the days to come.

 

Service yet to leave Swindon because the incoming stock - the aforementioned 06:42 from Weymouth has yet to arrive.  Looks like it will be around 20 minutes late leaving.

 

From the December TransWilts Newsletter

 

Ah - thank you.  And looks like information systems are just starting to change ... a couple of extra train stops added in too on the services diverted through Melksham. Makes sense.

 
According to Journeycheck the 06.10 Salisbury to Gloucester was down to stop at Melksham at 06.56.

Also showing the 06.42Weymouth to Bristol diverted to Swindon calling at Melksham at 08.34

So it looks like thinking is to stop some services at Melksham.

 

 

GWR website re: Swindon - Westbury: "We are struggling to source rail replacement transport at this time. Customers travelling from unstaffed stations are requested to make use of the Customer Help Point systems available, or contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950 detailing the total number of passengers travelling".

 
Four hours later, @GWRHelp have not given any advice for passengers to or from Melksham. Tweets asking have been read but not answered. It appears that trains are being run through the station but none calling.  Plenty of advice for passengers at Bradford-on-Avon, Avoncliff and Freshford. Departure boards just say "Cancelled" and point to refunds and compensation, with no suggestion of how key workers should travel.  Sadly, GWR have surpassed themselves - not even a "sorry - we have abandoned you". The promise of improvements in immediate information after the fiasco in October appear to have been just words. 

 
Noting that the 05:33, 06:36, 07:20 and 19:15 (all Melksham times) aren't even shown on Real Time Trains - looks as if they may have been taken off to a plan for the Christmas / New Year, even though we are back to a "Normal Working day".   Only call that appears intact at Melksham out of 17 is the 20:21 - the Westbury to Cheltenham Spa via Swindon train.

Snapshot from map at http://new.passenger.chat/map/_CAACAAEAAA.jpg


The decision to cancel the TransWilts service is understandable.  The failure to offer any alternative at the same time - such as extra stops on diverted trains which are the whole reason for the cancellations, and cross acceptance of tickets on buses, could be seen as an abdication of responsibility at this time for the service and passengers.

 
29.12.2020, 03:50 - almost all TransWilts services cancelled to make the line available for diverted longer distance trains from the line through Bradford-on-Avon, which is closed.  As I write, passengers are told they can get their money back if they were planning to travel on one of the cancelled trains. Good data is provided on alternatives for stations on the line though Bradford on Avon, but nothing on alternative provision  (yet?) for passengers on the line through Melksham.


Line from Westbury to Swindon appears OPEN but the following cancellations are listed:

07:37 Westbury to Swindon due 08:20
08:45 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26
09:45 Westbury to Swindon due 10:34
11:06 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47
12:16 Westbury to Swindon due 13:01
13:15 Swindon to Westbury due 13:56
14:16 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:55
16:25 Westbury to Swindon due 17:08
17:36 Swindon to Westbury due 18:17
18:39 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
20:45 Swindon to Westbury due 21:26

Although good replacement data is provided for Bradford-on-Avon, Avoncliff and Freshford (see above in this post), no data is provided concerning replacement alternatives at Melksham or on TransWilts journeys.  Here's an example.


Noting no cross-availability on (for example) bus x34 (Trowbridge - Melksham - Chippenham), nor on 271,272,273 Melksham to Bath routes. 

Not seeing any extra stops reported on diverted trains (yet?)

Hopefully further updates to follow.

 

Indeed - and one of the reasons the line survived and in good shape though single after 1966 was its use for diversions.  So we smile and say "you are welcome" to all sorts of trains.   Just get even so slightly possessive and peeved when cancellations are blamed on flooding on "our" line when in reality our line is the saviour of the piece.

I have edited my post to include screen captures of our live feeds - this is an excellent test of them.  Far too may such feeds work well when the system is running perfectly or close to it, but then fall apart as the service falls apart which is the very time they need to work well.  So you will find me at times like this pulling up all the screens and checking our (MRUG) data interpretation.

Nothing has been built on the south to west curve trackbed at Thingley ... which was a major connection in the Second World War. Re-instatement would certainly be useful today (28/12/2020) but I'm not sure how much so in normal service unless you look way ahead to the Bristol Metro Westbury service at via B-o-A with a further 1 or 2 via Corsham and Melksham; it would certainly a catchment of 45k at those two stations rather than the 15k or so who are at B-o-A.

 

Yes.  It would be much less chaotic if the line was doubled between Thingley Junction and Bradford Junction as you point out.  And even less if the third part of the triangle still existed at Thingley Junction.

But...at least the signalling at Thingley/Chippenham is quite flexible.  Bi-directional signalling and reversals possible on both lines at and between both locations.  Without that, there would be no sensible diversionary route at all for the longer distance trains, and it would have been a case of calling up the bus companies again and far worse chaos!

 
Chaos!

Main line from Westbury to Bath and Bristol blocked by flooding at Bradford-on-Avon.  Cardiff - Portsmouth trains diverted via TransWilts and Melksham which, of course, means that "our" trains have been withdrawn ... glad to see one stop (at least) added into the trains that are going through.    And glad to see that the Melksham RUG tracker is coping reasonably:

from http://www.mrug.org.uk/mkm.html


and from http://melksh.am/trains

which on a phone looks like:


And the TransWilts Real Time product also reflect the issues at https://transwilts.org/app/#/home


This first JourneyCheck report is incorrect.  The flooding is NOT between Swindon and Westbury ...








etc

 
Helpful new poster been put up in the waiting room by Platform 2 at Swindon.

 
 

 

Both now reinstated.

 

 

 

Good news indeed ... I did a Melksham 'station check' just over an hour ago (litter pick, etc!) and watched the 15:39 (previous train) call.  Around 30 people using it (estimate) ... 6 off and 4 on (those to figures accurate) and around 20 going through.  Not heaving, but not bad for an off peak train on a damp and blowy Friday afternoon in winter.   Also good that the station board was showing the next two trains back, but confirming the 18:55 cancelled [still]

 
Good News!

16:25 ex-Westbury and 17:36 ex-Swindon both re-instated.

 

 

Thanks for that ... update (and re-instatement) very much appreciated.  I can't help wondering what proportion of people make other plans when a cancellation or short run is announced and then aren't aware, or stick with their new plans, when the train is re-instated.

I'll characterise this through service from Swindon to Weymouth (usually) as two services joined up at Westbury with little through traffic - there would be through traffic if it was the 09:12 off Swindon that carried on to Weymouth, or if most services were joined up in this way.  Traffic on each of the sections is important though, with the train filling what would otherwise be a massive gap.

 

The additional 1915 Westbury to Swindon passenger service on Saturday came about by dividing a Portsmouth - Cardiff train at Westbury to provide the rolling stock (the train to Cardiff would normally divide at Bristol Temple Meads, with one set running empty to Swindon to form the 2107 Swindon - Westbury).

There was a separate empty stock move from Bristol to Swindon, which stabled overnight in the bay platform, to form the first train to Westbury on Sunday.

 
Just for the record, this train ran through to Dorchester West as scheduled (it was reinstated just before 1000 on Sunday morning)

 
Looks like Saturday?s additional train was a positioning move to get the stock to Swindon for this morning?s first service to Melksham.    Unit berthed overnight in platform 2.

 

 
Timetabled:
From WSB   07:37   08:35   10:05   12:05   14:07   15:00   16:34   18:35
From SWI   08:45   11:05   13:03   15:05   16:02   17:34   19:34   21:07

Today:
From WSB   07:37   08:35   10:05   12:05   14:07   16:34    19:15 (extra)
From SWI   08:45   11:05   13:03   15:05   17:34   21:07
Frankly, not all that bad - had it been timetabled like that a week ahead, fair enough
Delighted that the 17:34 and 21:07 from Swindon both ran
19:15 from Westbury is an extra. There is usually and ECS to Swindon for the 21:07 and it really should take passengers!

Which leads me to look at the SATURDAY TransWilts service. Although the other days of the week are now sensible, Saturday remains quirky with features which - at best - I say are "for historic reasons", and it feels inefficient to have empties running up and down to fulfill it, with multiple trains "out" at the same time.

Why not:
From WSB   07:37   09:45   12:05   14:07   16:52   19:08   20:48
From SWI   08:34   11:03   13:03   15:05   17:45   19:58   21:48
* Connections at Westbury to make days out possible to Southampton, to Weymouth, to Exeter
* Late(r) trains back from both ends of the line
* Maintains key trains and flows
* One train all day (and indeed one service LESS than specified - add as 22:38 / 23:28 round trip if you like!)

 

 

Similarly

16:02 Swindon to Westbury due 16:43

18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:24

19:34 Swindon to Westbury due 20:16

 

Not sure how that blocks the line ... freight trains still showing up on Real Time Trains 

BUT good to see we have buses running rather than just telling people they can get their money back.

 

 
Just been told

Road replacement has been organised..

One coach will run non stop between Westbury/Swindon
Another will run calling at all stations.

Arrangements in place for all four cancelled services.

 
Almost like old times ...



So much for protecting at least the key train of the day, so much for offering information on alternatives ... noting these are the ONLY cancellations in the area ... next train now is tomorrow.

 

Passengers had great difficultly finding out what was going on, and certainly weren't given the respect of being told the truth that it might take days, even when the railway team plainly knew that.   Insult added to injury by being told information was "confidential" when it had - it would seem - been sold / contracted to Channel 5!

 
Key trains gone ... good to see that alternative transport is arranged.

 

......they couldn't afford him 

 
Melksham featuring quite heavily on the Channel 5 programme "Paddington  Station 24/7 Back on the tracks".
Half expected to see Grahame on the platform 

 
07:37 Westbury to Swindon due 08:20
08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:25

- cancelled due to staff shortage

 

 
Looking at Opentrain times maps - both.  A freight has just headed through Melksham towards Thingley.

 

Thanks.  Is that both lines north of Trowbridge, or just the one to Bath?

 
Line now reopened.

 

Watching ... with passenger numbers low as they are and lockdown rules, social media and automated feeds preclude any follow ups at the station.  Looking forward to when the cafe linked to / operated by TransWilts is open there - it will be really useful to have a real person who can help (even if just telling people who to call / how to find out) on site when things go wrong.

 
It looks very likely the train would not have run even with a driver due to an incident near Bradford Junction.  This also has the potential to affect the next two trains to Swindon.  

Disruption expected until 08:30 and more buses trying to be sourced.

 
Having JUST posted that .... from JourneyCheck


and it HAS come up straight away at http://melksh.am/trains

 
So - with extra notice yesterday, how have we done?

Melksham Rail User Group - Melksham Specific notices (but we have many wider followers)

Facebook - 132 people reached, 10 engagements
Twitter - 59 people reached, 2 engagements
and this morning our live display at http: // melksh.am/trains is showing:


or if you read on a wider screen


GWR Journey Check also confirming that the train is replaced by a bus:


But the displays at the station just tell you the train is cancelled:


TransWilts also posted on Facebook and Tweeted


and


(I do not have access to stats of numbers of impressions and visits for these pages)

And their Live app at https: // transwilts.org/app/#/home is showing:


Links to all the various live feeds via http://new.passenger.chat/better/map.html?stn=MKM (and if you replace MKM by another station code, or click on the map that comes up when you visit that page, you can find out about any other station.

---

Taking the opportunity to "audit" the data.  I know our MRUG feeds (there are two of us who can update those pages / data, AND we take autometed feeds) reached key people - "likes", etc, including regular passengers. And the number of engagements in the way I chose to write the pages is not relevant - all the information needed was presented on the landing page, so people can read and understand without the need to click through.   

Slightly disappointed that the official WebTIS and TransWilts App just say "cancelled" with no indication there's a bus.  The WebTIS particularly concerbig as that's the same source as the displays at the station at Melksham, so anyone who turns up there may not realise there's a bus coming.  Pressing the button on the Help point will (educated guess) reach someone who knows about the bus, as National Rail advise tends to follow JourneyCheck where it's available.

To some extent, that above is a "one off" check / look. But we at MRUG need to learn from it to help ensure that automated feeds telling people of changes are as thorough as possible including alternative travel plans and that we can minimise local intervention. At the same time, flag up where it's not automated on social media, helping to ensure we tell as positive story as possible - "you are being looked after" and "all these other services are running as normal" - we reach enough people who are not happening to use the particular trains in question for it to be a publicity opportunity. 

P.S. - it's not only about getting the data out there, but about ensuring it has a date and location on it ("tomorrow" must be identified in case it's read on archive and confuses for a later date) and gets removed from the live feed manual text boxes if we have to use them once the services are past.

 
Replacement bus on its way (well, not exactly, but it will be EARLY tomorrow!

Facebook:


Twitter:


Click on images above to go to the feed or http://melksh.am/trains for runner train running

Other live feeds, etc, via http://new.passenger.chat/better/map.html?stn=MKM

 

Thanks for that ... even that early in the morning, you're looking at several dozen people loosing their train.   First train at Melksham put back from 05:33 to 07:20 ...

While I am here ...


Report suggests it resulted in the most overloaded train on GWR that day - at 452% of (socially distanced) capacity.

 
Early advice for tomorrow

 

That will be ... interesting.  At the moment, that train probably picks up more people at Swindon than any other train on the timetable - a major flow to Stroud which - because schools are not in lockdown - is still there.

 

 
In the end it left on time.

Signalling problems at Swindon this morning but resolved before the first train of day from Warminster/Westbury.

 

 

 

Many thanks for flagging that, Bob.   It did make it to the automated log ( http://www.mrug.org.uk/record.html ) as follows, so the feedback from MRUG to TransWilts at the end of the month WILL have it noted as a Melksham cancellation, but good to have the background confirmed rather that looking back and wondering

 
I understand the 07:05 from Westbury to Cheltenham Spa this morning was diverted via Bathampton Junction (thus missing Melksham) because of a struggling freight train on the single line.

 
It failed just before Frome but was top and tailed and so managed to go back wrong road to the avoider to clear the line.

 
it seems that the Tackley to Fairwater Yard service has failed on the Westbury Avoider. Traksy showed that some trains are diverting via Westbury itself. The Swindon Westbury is 17 late passing Bruton.

 
The 13:41 Swindon to Weymouth has been delayed at Swindon by nine minutes while a plan is formulated to get it past a failed freight train near Frome.

Three West of England services have been reversed at Westbury and sent via Bristol but that option isn't available to get to Weymouth.

Suspect there will be some form of single line working to get the Weymouth service to Castle Cary.

 
Working as it should this morning  ... 05:33 Melksham to Swindon on time, with five people joining the train - 2 arrived at the station on door, 2 on cycles which they took on the train, and one was dropped off.  Four out of the five are regular users, and all but one of them expect to carry on travelling to work by train even over the next month as their roles cannot be performed from home.  An element of doubt in a couple of cases depending on employer's business decisions.

 

Good connection FROM Swindon if people were there 10 minutes early ... changing at Chippenham.  I pity Melksham to Gloucester passengers (yes, there were) who would have missed their connection at Swindon.

 
The return service did indeed start from Chippenham.

One other thing to note. With the service TO Swindon being terminated at Chippenham there is a train from Weston-super-Mare at 09:26 from Chippenham which would get people to Swindon at 09:38. Not too bad for the shop workers who normally use that first TransWilts train on a Sunday.  However today it was delayed at Bristol Temple Meads and was 34 minutes late.

 

08:37 at Melksham eventually ran at 09:00 but only to Chippenham.  8 waiting for train on the platform.

09:37 at Melksham (presumably from Chippenham) was on time. 11 waiting for the train.

I was down there doing light gardening as previous agreed with GWR where I was well clear of passengers.   I did hear the help point suggesting at one point that passengers for the 08:37 wait for the 11:00 ...

Interesting, isn't it  - "Disruption is expected until 08:15" and yet once again disruption seems to have carried on for some time after that ...

 
The MRUG web site gathers data on trains calling at Melksham and each month I forward a review to the team at TransWilts - the intent being to assist with long term monitoring and learning and not to get involved in day to day issues.  October having some unusual features which I had hoped no longer happened, I am sharing here too.  10% cancellation is awful! and lack of feedback from the rail industry to the passengers is awful too.

A summary of OCTOBER train services that called (or were supposed to call) at Melksham

467 services scheduled
of which
93 were amended with good notice to buses (where "On time" reports are just assumptions)
37 were cancelled trains
14 were significantly late trains
49 were late trains by < 5 minutes
274 were trains on time

Only 274 of 467 train services ran as per the published timetable - though 93 of the 193 services that did not run were replaces by buses with good notice and that is acceptable / understandable. Which leaves exactly 100 serviced late or cancelled on the day. Just under half of those were just a few minutes late, but that still leaves over 50 services where passengers for Melksham, or waiting at Melksham, suffered significant problems.

Train running rate ? 337 out of 374 ? 90% (versus 98% being regarded as an acceptable worst case)
Train Passenger Performance Measure (ppm) - 86%

Cancellations average through the whole month at five times the minimum acceptable rate, spread across four separate incidents, with once incident lasting for three days It becomes very difficult to support and promote the service, and very tempting to escalate the reports and complaints to higher management with the request that they help local staff with a service fit for purpose by their own standards.

Through the long-lasting incident, where the line was not properly re-opened until the Thursday after engineering works were supposed to be completed on the Sunday, we were being mislead by official feeds such as JourneyCheck that "disruption would be until X time" which was usually just a few hours away. Either this was a repeated over-optimism on the part of the people reporting the issue, or a cynical decision to string the customers along and not admit the extent of the problems.

The events were extraordinary, and Network Rail sent a letter of explanation to the TransWilts CRP who briefly put it on their website, but then withdrew it leaving a broken "404" link.  I regret not copying and pasting the text when I first saw it. when challenged, they explained "We thought it best to remove the post as it was agreed it breached confidentiality with NR.". The lack of any explanation to customers seriously disrupted, and the clubbing together of Network Rail and TransWilts to suppress any explanation, suggests a level of disregard for the travelling passenger bordering on contempt.  I attended the GWR Stakeholder meeting that Friday, at which the Network Rail representative asked attendees to get in touch with him with any matters arising, and I did to shortly thereafter; he acknowledged and passed on the issue, said I would hear from [name redacted] but I have not done so. A request to TransWilts for a copy or summary for customers who were put out for the best part of a week has not been answered apart from the comment above either.

The lack of all but a handful of trains from the end of service on Friday to the start the following Thursday, with the majority of changes being short notice cancellations, will fade from memory, but I think that the rail industry really needs to remember that it's a customer-serving industry and look after customers, treating them with care, respect and honesty if it's looking to come out of the current times strong and well supported.

 
Alterations to services between Chippenham and Trowbridge via Melksham
Due to engineering works not being finished on time between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 08:15 01/11.
Train services between Chippenham and Trowbridge via Melksham may be delayed or revised.

 

 

Indeed ... I am helping with a survey of traffic/people on Station Approach in Melksham and noted it calling on time.  Can't believe every delay you read online.

 

Looks like it departed 1 minute early.   

 

 

 

 

This was a replacement bus.